Several weeks ago, I wrote about my optimism in the face of declining denominational participation. As I was researching that particular musing, I came across an article I had saved from last summer. It was an interview with Roger Olson, a Professor of Theology at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary [Christianity Today, July 20, 2017: “The Rise of the Nons: Protestants Keep Ditching Denominations”]

I kept the article because of this quote by Dr. Olson:

“There is a trend toward what I call ‘generic Christianity’ that is very feeling-centered and pragmatic and somewhat anti-intellectual. As denominational particularities are ignored or hidden, what’s often left is a ‘lowest common denominator’ spirituality that is often little more than ‘worship’ and ‘discipleship’ devoid of cognitive content. The result is often folk religion rather than historic, classic, biblical Christianity.”

The thought caught my eye because it dovetailed with so many conversations I’ve had with individuals regarding their faith. They define themselves as spiritual without being religious. I flinch a bit at the notion, as I am a religious professional; if this de-institutionalization of spirituality gets out of hand, I could be out of a job.

I understand how corporate apparatus can inhibit authentic expression. I am deeply aware of the ways religious organizations stifle innovation and accommodation. At the same time, however, I fear non-religious spiritualists are buying into a false paradigm, that one can experience the depths of spirituality divorced from the foibles of corporate interaction. Once you seek to transmit spiritual ideals or organize an activity or coordinate diversity, all the little gremlins of religiosity rear their ugly heads.

Following this trend, church-growth gurus are encouraging leaders to provide single-use events, mission projects that that can be accomplished in one day, fellowship that requires no follow-up, educational events lasting only two or three hours. These are less messy. Participants are not required to encounter one another that awkward second time where recalling names or preferences might be expected.

This parallels the rise of the political rally at the expense of the discussion forum. At a rally, everyone briefly adheres to a single cause or candidate without ever exploring the possibility of disagreements over motivation or purpose. Unity is defined by head-count, leaving the power of interpretation to the organizers.

At the risk of sounding out of step, I must confess that my spirituality isn’t fed by the flash-mob. I believe true spirituality is nurtured by the chafe of difference; it is the deeper invitation to remain connected while simultaneously being uncomfortable. I may not even like you, but remaining connected and respectful inspires my spirit’s growth.

To be spiritual without being religious, in the end, is as satisfying as being musical without being tonal, patriotic without being national, informed without being educated, intimate without being relational (or, as is often my situation, humorous without being funny).

For the few of us remaining that still believe in the triumph of reconciliation over estrangement, there is a thicker opportunity found in the old-time religion of community. There’s something profoundly challenging in trying to figure out how to serve on a committee with someone I’ve offended. Every time I have to apologize for forgetting your name, I am chastened to pay better attention. Yes, it may require I stifle my reflex to insult or ignore you, but perhaps that’s the point. If I am constantly rewarded for being accepted as I am, how in God’s name will I grow?

Following the attack on mosques in Christchurch New Zealand, I wrote a letter of solidarity to the Administrative Assistant and congregation of the Orland Park Prayer Center. FPPLC’s confirmation class received a gracious welcome and tour of the facility and were given the opportunity to observe Asr, afternoon daily prayer, of the community. The following is an open letter to the Administrator and congregation.

I grew up among people who held a paradoxical relationship with Jews. On the one hand, most of the adult men in my childhood congregation were veterans of World War II, and many found great meaning for their service in the liberation of the Jewish people from the brutal tyranny of anti-Semitic Nazism. On the other hand, because the Jews had rejected Jesus, we were confident they were going to hell. There was also a third hand that colored our understanding of Jewish-Christian relations, and that was a reading of Biblical prophecy that insisted the formation of the nation of Israel was a prerequisite for the second coming of Jesus, something we were weekly enjoined to hasten.

As we approach the season of Lent, it is important to note that the day before Ash Wednesday in much of the world is known as Fat Tuesday, owing to the historic tradition of not eating fats and sugars during the season of penance. While the celebration known as Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, is a ten-month tourist celebration in New Orleans, in many countries the days of Carnival begin the Thursday before Lent and culminate on Tuesday, the eve of Ash Wednesday.

As Pope Francis gathers with Roman Catholic bishops in the Vatican this week in a summit designed to address clergy sexual abuse of minors, I have had several conversations with individuals suggesting that the Catholics have a big problem. While I hope the magisterium experiences some breakthroughs in discipline and oversight through an event largely organized by Chicago’s Cardinal Blase Cupich, it would be a serious mistake to suggest this is somehow an issue confined to the ranks of Roman Rite clergy.

Clergy sexual abuse of minors is not a problem that will be resolved by permitting priests the stability of marriage. To be sure, the recent revelations of the Southern Baptist Convention regarding their own clergy…

In 1968, the United States 90th Congress passed H.R. 15951 An Act to provide for uniform annual observances of certain legal public holidays on Mondays, and for other purposes, usually abbreviated as the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. The original bill stipulated that several holidays be moved to Mondays, but the one commemorating Washington’s birthday remain fixed on the 22nd of February, a date set as a federal holiday by President Rutherford B. Hayes. However, Illinois House Representative and Judiciary Committee member Robert McClory of Lake Bluff had lost his bid to make Lincoln’s birthday, February 12, a federal holiday. The amendment failed in committee due to staunch opposition by the Virginia delegation. In response to his amendment’s defeat, McClory successfully amended the

It’s been a few months now since our Sanctuary Choir Director, Jason Fahrenbach, expanded his repertoire to include leadership of our Praise and Worship Team and became FPCLG’s Director of Music Ministry. The response from both the musicians and the Community Service attendees has been enthusiastically positive, and to my knowledge, the Sanctuary Choir has not felt older child neglect in the transition. To my ear the music in both services is beyond magnificent; we are blessed with many gifted volunteers and professionals who inspire our voices and hearts in divine worship.

There are now two of us who weekly experience both Sunday morning services

This coming Saturday will be our second annual Confirmation Rally, where we invite Confirmation-aged young people from the greater La Grange community to celebrate our common faith and our unity in Christ. There will be snacks, music, conversation, dinner, games and a few special guests. We hope to link our young people in the knowledge that they are members of a church fellowship that extends well beyond the walls of FPCLG, a common faith, a common heritage, a body of Christ with many expressions of tradition, doctrine and practice. In the same way that we do not baptize our children as Presbyterians, we do not confirm our young people as Presbyterians, but in both rites we announce their covenant relationship with Christians,

As the snow accumulates on our back deck, I’m musing how snowstorms have this amazing quality of timelessness. While we are taught that no two snowflakes are alike, snowstorms, in my memory, are all aligned as one big contiguous accumulation of white wonder. Briefly, I suspend all knowledge of snow’s intrusion into my routine, the repetitious weight of the shovel, the crunchy scraping of a windshield, spinning tires rocking from a drift, and I am lost in the anticipation of flapping arms of an angel, the careful engineering of a fort, red runners cutting into the side of a great hill.

The following remarks were delivered by The Reverend Jonathan Krogh, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of La Grange, IL for the 2019 Dr. Martin Luther King Day prayer breakfast held on January 21, 10 AM, sponsored by the Caring Place for Kids, Lincoln & Washington Streets, La Grange, Illinois.

In preparation for this morning’s remarks I read the following words in a December 26 New Yorker article by Eliza Griswold entitled “Evangelicals of Color Fight Back Against the Religious Right.” Quoting social activist Sharon Harper: “The whole Bible and evangelical faith, along with Protestant faith and Catholic faith, has all been interpreted through the lens of empire. All of it. All of it has been interpreted through the lens of Caesar. And Caesar killed Jesus. And Jesus was an indigenous, brown, colonized man.”